The Female Lead Saves the World - Chapter 252

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Yeo Joo Saves the World
Part 2, Episode 73

“Na Baek Ho, do the pout just once! The pout!”
Yang Hwa Yeon thrust her phone camera forward, pleading with Na Baek Ho.
No matter how much he loved attention, there was no way a Familiar would compromise his dignity like that…
“Oh my, so pretty! Adorable, adorable!”
“Purrrr!”
…or so I thought.
I stepped in before Na Baek Ho could do anything worse.
“Na Baek Ho, were you having fun?”
I approached and gently stroked his head, and the contented rumbling of his purr transmitted through my palm.
“[Yeah, it was fun.]”
“What, what?”
“Who just said something?”
Chaos erupted.
The people gathered around Na Baek Ho, as well as those training inside the Training Room, rushed out through the doors and glanced around frantically.
I looked down at Na Baek Ho quietly.
At first glance, he appeared expressionless as he observed the people, but the corners of his mouth were twitching upward mischievously.
“You’ve been deliberately not speaking this whole time, haven’t you?”
“[Yeah.]”
The crowd’s heads whipped around frantically, searching for the source of the voice.
Then, surprisingly perceptive as always, Yang Hwa Yeon pointed at Na Baek Ho with her finger.
“Could it be… that Baek Ho spoke?”
“[Hello.]”
“Whoa! Waaaah!”
“What?! Baek Ho can talk?!”
“Baek Ho?! That voice just now was Baek Ho!”
Beyond their initial shock, people began calling others over to gather around.
“Hey, come out here! Baek Ho can talk!”
“What? Who can talk?”
“That doesn’t make sense. How could a Familiar speak human language.”
“This isn’t the time to be training?”
In an instant, numerous Hunters flooded into the Underground Training Facility lobby.
They had all gathered upon hearing the news that “Baek Ho can talk.”
And the more spectators accumulated, the higher Na Baek Ho’s black nose lifted with pride.
“You’ll get a herniated disc if you keep doing that.”
“[Baek Ho, Familiar. Very healthy.]”
As I listened to Na Baek Ho boast about his health, Kang Han, who had heard the commotion outside, opened the door to the Simulation Training Room and stepped out.
“Why is everyone gathered here?”
“Guild Master! Look, look at him—Baek Ho! Baek Ho is talking!”
“That doesn’t make any sense….”
“[Baek Ho, speech, possible.]”
“…Baek Ho?”
Kang Han’s eyes widened in surprise as he strode forward.
Then, gauging Baek Ho’s size, he spoke.
“He seems to have grown a bit. Did he evolve?”
“[That’s right. Baek Ho, now, adult.]”
“You’re talking like an adult. Just because your body got bigger doesn’t make you one, you pup.”
At my rebuke, Na Baek Ho shot me a glance, then drooped his head and whimpered, feigning dejection.
“[Yeo Joo, personality bad. Confidence, dropping.]”
“Nobody’s falling for that.”
“Huff.”
Kang Han watched our banter with a blank expression before asking carefully.
“Could Baek Young do it too, Baek Ho? Talk like you do?”
“[Of course, possible.]”
“So it’s possible to have a conversation with Baek Young….”
Kang Han fell silent.
But his eyes gleamed with unmistakable brilliance as he gazed at Baek Ho.
‘Baek Young will evolve soon too.’
I thought this as I followed Yoo Jin Rok and Baek Ho into the largest Simulation Training Room.

* * *

“Baek Ho, want to try jumping high?”
“[Understood.]”
Na Baek Ho nodded at Yoo Jin Rok’s command and crouched before launching himself upward with tremendous force.
And he really did jump high.
High enough to nearly burst through the Training Facility ceiling.
“Whoa, careful…!”
My involuntary cry rang hollow as Na Baek Ho ascended until his head nearly grazed the ceiling, then landed safely without incident.
His descent traced a graceful arc, his movements so light that only a soft tap echoed through the space as his four paws touched the ground.
I’d confirmed that Na Baek Ho could handle that height without issue, but my heart still hammered with alarm, so I hurried over to ask.
“Na Baek Ho, are you okay? Your legs don’t hurt?”
But Na Baek Ho’s reaction was strange.
He glanced at me sideways with what looked like embarrassment, then pushed me away with his front paw.
And what he said was—
“[Yeo Joo, embarrassing. Go away.]”
“Did you just say my concern embarrasses you?”
I asked, bewildered, but this time he didn’t even respond.
Without looking at me, he approached Yoo Jin Rok and apologized.
“[Yeo Joo, fussy. Sorry.]”
“Pfft!”
“Ugh, seriously. What do I do with him. Hehe.”
Among the onlookers gathered to watch Na Baek Ho’s first training, laughter burst forth that couldn’t be contained.
It was Yoo Jin Rok who comforted me as I stood dazed from the shock.
“Yeo Joo, kids go through phases like that. You know, when they tell their parents not to acknowledge them at the playground because it’s embarrassing…”
“Teacher.”
“Hmm?”
“Please really put Na Baek Ho through his paces today.”
“Ha ha. Sure, sure.”
Since I said it was embarrassing, I’ll step back, but let’s see how much he can handle.
I glared at the ungrateful Na Baek Ho and retreated to watch the training alongside the others.
Of course, emotions welled up inside me, but I had no choice but to suppress them.
Yoo Jin Rok’s choice for Na Baek Ho’s first training partner was unexpectedly Jang Su Ho.
I’d assumed it would be Kang Han, who was technically superior, or Sung Yo Na, who was more agile.
“Baek Ho, you’ve only recently evolved, so adapting to your new body size comes first. Today we’ll check how well you understand your own body and how effectively you can use it. Understood?”
“[Yes, excited.]”
“Then let’s do some bare-knuckle sparring with Su Ho today. You’ll fight using only your body’s strength, without claws or weapons. Can you do that?”
“[Mm.]”
But Na Baek Ho’s response was lukewarm.
He looked between Jang Su Ho and Yoo Jin Rok, then shook his head and spoke.
“[Su Ho, get hurt. Can’t.]”
A moment of silence fell over the Training Facility.
And everyone’s eyes turned toward Jang Su Ho, who had just been treated as a weakling by the newly evolved Familiar.
“Baek Ho, you don’t need to worry about your brother. Let’s have a proper match first.”
Jang Su Ho spoke with a smile, but the veins bulging on his forehead betrayed his true feelings as Na Baek Ho shook his head again.
“[Su Ho, weak. Not my opponent.]”
Crunch.
Finally, Jang Su Ho’s teeth ground together.
“Na Baek Ho, why don’t we fight first and talk later? It still seems like you have a long way to go before you can beat me.”
“[…Fine. Fight.]”
Na Baek Ho, who immediately took the bait from Jang Su Ho’s provocation, shook his head and spoke.
Before the two could begin their sparring match, they moved to the Outdoor Training Ground.
It was because of Yoo Jin Rok’s opinion that Na Baek Ho’s jumping ability was better than expected, and there was a risk of injury if he thrashed about indoors.
As they moved outside, Jang Su Ho, who seemed to have cooled his head a bit, regained his composure and spoke.
“Come at me first, Baek Ho. I’ll let you have the advantage.”
“[Regret, too late.]”
As soon as Na Baek Ho finished speaking, he charged straight at Jang Su Ho.
The speed was so tremendous that my eyes couldn’t even follow it.
Na Baek Ho jumped forward at full speed and swept his right foot toward Jang Su Ho.
Boom!
But with the loud sound, it was Na Baek Ho who was sent flying backward instead.
Jang Su Ho had charged hard into the opening created by Na Baek Ho’s raised front leg, pushing him back forcefully.
“See? I told you Baek Ho still has a long way to go?”
At Jang Su Ho’s leisurely teasing words, Na Baek Ho rose to his feet and shook his head vigorously, his eyes suddenly gleaming.
It seemed he had truly switched on.
“[Su Ho, hurt. Me, don’t care.]”
The second clash between the Familiar and the human continued with quite intense exchanges.
Jang Su Ho couldn’t use his shield, and Na Baek Ho couldn’t use his claws and teeth, yet the sparring was fierce.
Someone like me would be on the express train to the afterlife if I accidentally got caught between those two.
As time passed and Na Baek Ho’s attacks grew sharper, Jang Su Ho’s movements became increasingly threatening.
Without the chill of the Eternal Cold Steel, heat seemed to rise in his head, and a savage smile unlike his usual demeanor began to spread across Jang Su Ho’s face.
Still, fortunately, he didn’t seem to be going all out against Na Baek Ho—his eyes didn’t turn red, and his muscles didn’t swell any larger.
My assessment of the pure exchange between one Familiar enjoying the match and one human was this:
“It’s like what would happen if a dog and a cat fought.”
At that, the hunters from Team 2 and Team 3 watching the sparring together nodded their heads.
“Oh, yeah, that’s right.”
“It is. It’s a shame Su Ho doesn’t have teeth and claws like Baek Ho.”
“Wouldn’t that be possible if Berserker Mode activates?”
“Hmm, maybe?”
Listening to the surrounding conversations, I could only nod my head.
Now I finally understood Yoo Jin Rok’s intention in choosing Jang Su Ho as Na Baek Ho’s first training partner.
This was when the pattern of Yoo Jin Rok occasionally stepping in to stop the sparring and give brief advice before they started fighting again was repeating.
I sat on the steps of the Outdoor Training Ground when Ryu Sang Eun from Team 2, sitting beside me, tapped my shoulder.
“Yeo Joo, did you know about this?”
On the phone screen he showed me, a news headline was displayed.

[Breaking News: Korean Awakener Association Reviewing Restrictions on Healer Access to Double Dungeons.]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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